Decision and Resolve

Six hours later, warm firelight emerged from a natural cave.

Jiang Xiao, clothes tattered, watched the flames burning on Xia Yan's right hand gradually die out. He had truly seen something new.

There was an endless amount of knowledge about surviving in the wild. With Star Skills, survival was even more convenient for the Awakened.

For example, Jiang Xiao had watched Xia Yan stick her right hand into the branches and slowly ignite the campfire without using any kindling.

Along the six-hour journey, the two had encountered more than a dozen White Ghosts. Without exception, Jiang Xiao had lost every time.

Jiang Xiao's greatest achievement was surviving. His military uniform, neat that morning, was now torn beyond recognition. Compared to when they had arrived, the atmosphere was heavy, and the two had not spoken for a long time.

Xia Yan set down her greatsword and leaned against the cave wall. Crouching beside the campfire, she quietly warmed herself.

The flickering firelight illuminated her heroic features, adding a touch of charm to her figure.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Xiao opened his Marching Pack and took out some tools. He poured mineral water into a pot and tried to arrange the fire, setting up the pot at a suitable angle.

As someone who had always lived in the city, Jiang Xiao had no wilderness survival skills either. He had to figure everything out himself.

"Your progress has been very fast. Perhaps I was too strict with you and expected too much. After all, you only became an Awakened a week ago." Xia Yan suddenly spoke. Her words carried a hint of encouragement, as well as a hint of self-consolation.

Jiang Xiao did not respond. He merely took out some biscuits and handed them to Xia Yan before activating his Inner Star Map to check his condition.

The past six hours had been like a trip through hell for Jiang Xiao.

In this Snowy Forest, Jiang Xiao's movements were greatly restricted. The White Ghosts, meanwhile, were fighting on their home turf, and they were naturally agile. Jiang Xiao had suffered terribly because of it.

Yet Xia Yan had said nothing about it. She had simply rescued Jiang Xiao time and again, watching him struggle with the White Ghosts over and over.

Jiang Xiao even felt that he should buy a few guns on the black market. At the very least, firearms ought to be highly effective against low-level creatures like these.

With Xia Yan's miraculous protection and Jiang Xiao's own "Blessing" skill, his wounds were not serious, and his physical condition remained decent. However, he clearly realized that he had no capital to hunt at all.

Yet under Xia Yan's forceful orders, he still charged at the White Ghosts again and again.

Weak,

helpless,

yet so arrogant.

Jiang Xiao obtained a full four White Ghost Star Beads. Since the two could not find a suitable place to settle down and battles could break out at any moment, Jiang Xiao absorbed all four of the White Ghost Star Beads as well.

When he had come here, he had still been carrying three unabsorbed White Ghost Star Beads.

At this moment, the skills in Jiang Xiao's second Star Slot, "Green Glow" and "Endurance," had both reached Bronze Quality Lv. 9.

Upgrading their quality was only a matter of time.

The White Ghost Witch Star Bead was also absorbed after an exhausting battle, and Jiang Xiao's Inner Star Map underwent a tremendous transformation.

Character: Jiang Xiao.

I. Star Map: Big Dipper Nine Stars, Star Dust Stage Lv. 3.

II. Star Skills:

1. Blessing, Bronze Quality Lv. 2.

2. Decoy, Bronze Quality Lv. 2.

3. Green Glow, Bronze Quality Lv. 9.

4. Endurance, Bronze Quality Lv. 9.

III. Basic Skills:

1. Barehanded Combat, Bronze Quality Lv. 6.

2. Abundant Star Power, Bronze Quality Lv. 2.

3. Dagger Proficiency, Bronze Quality Lv. 1.

IV. Skill Points: 3.

That was right. Although Jiang Xiao's total Star Power had not changed at all, his "Green Glow" and "Endurance" had already reached Bronze Quality Lv. 9. In those brief six hours, his Barehanded Combat had also risen by one level, reaching Bronze Quality Lv. 6.

What surprised Jiang Xiao even more was that, in the Basic Skills of the third section, he had unlocked a new skill himself: Dagger Proficiency.

Jiang Xiao, a complete amateur, did not know how to use a dagger at all. He had merely held it in reverse and fought the White Ghosts barehanded. In the end, he found carrying the dagger too troublesome and put it back in his Marching Pack.

"There's a boy who's been pestering your sister." Xia Yan brought over the Marching Pack, took out a military canteen, and said casually, "He's quite strong, a melee Awakened. His character is terrible and he's very selfish. Last time, when we represented First Middle School in a competition, he nearly got another teammate of ours killed in the Different Dimension World."

"Hmm?" Jiang Xiao opened his eyes. He had to admit that he had not cared enough about Han Jiangxue.

"Our team has already split apart, but both sides come from decent families and are stubbornly preserving their dignity. Han Jiangxue and I became sacrifices in their struggle." Xia Yan wrapped a towel around her hand, picked up the scalding pot, and poured the water into the military canteen.

"If your strength were just a little higher, then as a precious Medical Awakened, you would qualify, from the standpoint of forming a team, to replace one of our team members." Xia Yan spoke softly. "Forgive me for rushing your growth."

"Hmm." Jiang Xiao tightened his tattered clothes. Sitting on the cold ground, he watched specks of light slowly flow into his body.

"I've already decided to take Han Jiangxue and leave this team. As for the price of leaving..." Xia Yan sighed silently. "Honors, rewards of high-quality Star Pearls, university admission slots, and our future paths would all change."

"It'll be difficult for Xiaoxue and me to find two more capable classmates at school. Every team has grown together harmoniously for two years and is about to enter its third. Unless something major happens, few teams would be willing to break themselves apart, even if it meant getting to cling to someone like Han Jiangxue and me."

"Of course, I mean top-tier team members, not ordinary ones. Those guys might come running to us with great joy." Xia Yan gave a self-mocking smile and continued, "I hope to preserve as much of the team as possible and keep the other teammate. I want you to replace that boy as a dark horse, with the attitude and bearing of one."

"The school will give face to their families. But if the wager is a ranking across all of Beijiang Province, or even among middle schools nationwide, that boy's family won't have enough influence. I hope you can grow as quickly as possible. I've already had my family look for high-quality Medical Awakened Star Pearls for you." Xia Yan took a small sip of hot water and spoke softly.

Seeing that Jiang Xiao remained unmoved, Xia Yan fell silent for a while before continuing, "That boy has been pursuing your sister ever since he broke up with his ex-girlfriend a year ago. Some of his methods are extremely vile. I've held him back for a year, but I don't know how much longer I can. After all, even a person's abilities have limits."

Jiang Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "What's his name?"

A smile bloomed across Xia Yan's face. "Make it out of the Snowfield alive, and I'll tell you."

As she spoke, Xia Yan slowly set down the canteen. "If you can't make it out, I'll firmly take your sister and withdraw from the team."

Jiang Xiao was slightly stunned. "Did you have to put it so absolutely?"

Reflected in the firelight, Xia Yan's beautiful eyes were a mixture of darkness and complexity, while her smile blossomed like a flower. "My resolve is even firmer."